AI in Border Management — BIG Summer Institutes
Schedule
Mon, 20 Jul, 2026 at 12:00 pm to Fri, 24 Jul, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC+02:00Location
EU Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) — Building Cour Saint-Michel 1 (CSM1) | Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, BU
About this Event
Artificial intelligence is transforming how borders manage trade, detect fraud, and enforce regulations — but understanding how to evaluate, deploy, and govern AI systems requires new skills. Border managers and policy professionals need to become informed decision-makers around AI, even without a technical background.
This course is truly innovative in that it introduces current and future border managers to the practical knowledge and working logic to understand and work with AI and machine learning in their organizations. No prior technical experience is required.
What you'll learn
- The fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning: key concepts, types of learning, and how models work
- How to evaluate AI/ML systems for accuracy, bias, and reliability — even without a technical background
- How AI is used to target smuggling (narcotics, weapons, counterfeits) and revenue evasion (misclassification, valuation fraud)
- How AI supports trade facilitation while maintaining enforcement of laws and regulations
- How knowledge graphs and network analysis are used to model global trade flows
- The privacy, security, and ethical considerations of deploying AI at borders, including GDPR compliance
- What the World Customs Organization is doing with AI, including its data strategy and BACUDA project
- How to develop a plan for addressing a border management challenge using AI/ML
About BIG_Lab
BIG_Lab is an international policy and research network based at the University of Victoria, Canada, dedicated to advancing border governance worldwide. Now in its 6th year, the BIG Summer Institutes have brought together 50+ expert speakers and 500+ participants from 30+ countries. Learn more at www.biglobalization.ca
Testimonials from BIG_Lab Summer Institute participants
"The practical insights I gained have had a meaningful impact on my daily work. Without hesitation, I would enthusiastically return to this program."
— Yuriy Kosmyna, Migration and Border Governance Senior Programme Specialist, IOM Mission in Ukraine
"The ability to learn from others in different regions is invaluable. We all have different strategies and challenges. This program helps bridge those gaps."
— Summer Institutes Participant, Tunisia
Where is it happening?
EU Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) — Building Cour Saint-Michel 1 (CSM1), Cours Saint-Michel 23, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, BelgiumEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 660.87
